LOS ANGELES — A disabled California man is suing the owners of a Los Angeles motel, alleging disability discrimination.
Chris Langer, who requires use of a wheelchair and a specially equipped van and has filed other disability suits, filed a complaint Jan. 22 in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California against Royal Viking Motel LP, Etown Inn LLC, and Does 1-10, alleging violation of the American’s With Disabilities Act and Unruh Civil Rights Act.
According to the complaint, in November 2016, Langer went to the Royal Viking Motel, 2025 W. Third St., Los Angeles to stay the night. Langer says none of the motel's guest rooms are accessible to wheelchair users like himself.
The suit says as a result of not having an accessible room, including not having an accessible shower, Langer was unable to bathe and had to go to his morning meeting without having the benefit of a full body wash.
The plaintiff alleges the defendants failed to make alterations, to the maximum extent feasible, to make the altered portions of the facility readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities.
Langer seeks trial by jury, actual damages and a statutory minimum of $4,000, attorney fees, litigation expenses and costs of suit. He is represented by attorney Isabel Masanque of Center for Disability Access in San Diego.
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California case number 2:18-cv-00524-FMO-AGR